Wink
by Trekker

The only sound in the cabin of the Delta Flyer was the soft thrum of the engines. Harry Kim sat in the copilot’s seat, his chair tilted back and turned slightly towards Tom Paris, as Tom piloted the shuttle back towards Voyager.

The silence was comfortable, the kind that can easily exist between close friends, and Harry was glad for that. He wasn’t in the mood for idle chatter. It was late, he was tired... and he was far too distracted.

Exhaustion cast a haze over his mind, focusing his attention to one sharp point: Tom. His eyes drifted over his friend, and for once, Harry let them drift. The effort required to tear his gaze away was simply not worth it. The illumination in the cabin was low, and the only light came off of the glowing displays on the console and walls. Tom’s face caught the light well, and his eyes, soft blue, gleamed in the darkness. Oh those eyes. Harry felt his fragile attention trapped by their gravity, stronger than any black hole. For the longest time he just watched Tom’s eyes, as they flicked up and down from the viewscreen to the controls. If only he knew...

With that thought, Harry sighed and looked away, watching the streaks of stars flowing past the viewscreen. Tom glanced over at him in askance, and Harry just shook his head, once, slightly. It was nothing. Tom shrugged and was instantly absorbed again by the helm. His left hand suddenly moved, gliding over the console to wrap three fingers gently around the top of a lever. His wedding ring twinkled in the starlight. Harry still hadn’t gotten used to that damn ring. It was always there, mocking him even in a moment as quiet and intimate as this. *He’s taken,* it whispered, as it glimmered in the cold starlight.

Tom’s fingers tightened around the top of the lever, concealing the ring, and with a gentle caress, he slid it down its groove. The grace of that movement caught Harry off guard, as it always did, and the thought of Tom’s hands touching him with that same tenderness leapt into his mind unbidden. In spite of himself, Harry shivered.

The stars outside snapped back into tiny points, and Voyager was suddenly hanging in the center of the viewscreen. Without being told, Harry leaned forward, touching a control to signal to the ship that they were making their approach. For a few precious seconds, his arm brushed over Tom’s. He could feel the warmth of his body, smell the scent of his cologne.

Harry jolted away, his chair squeaking as it rocked back. Tom didn’t notice, completely consumed by the task of guiding the Flyer into the shuttlebay. He was stunning at moments like this. Focused, serious, completely in tune with his work. His hands stroked the controls, and the Flyer responded eagerly. There was no need for inertial dampeners when Tom flew. Every move was soft as silk.

Harry was transfixed. More than simple exhaustion held him now. Tom shifted closer to the controls, his body moving under his tight uniform. Without meaning to, Harry sat up, acutely aware of how close they were. His foot was mere centimeters from Tom’s. Their lips were separated by no more than a few feet. His heart was pounding.

Tom was so unaware, just flying the shuttle with no idea - no idea! - what he was really doing. It almost hurt.

Harry didn’t even notice as the warm yellow lights of the shuttle bay poured through the window and the Flyer settled down with only the slightest of bumps. Tom ran through the shut down procedures with the same heartbreaking grace he used to fly the ship.

The silence was broken by the voice of the computer, informing them that shut down procedures were complete.

Tom leaned back and stretched, reaching his arms back over his head with his fingers interlocked. Harry knew he should look away, but he didn’t. He could hardly blame anyone but himself when Tom sat back up, tugged his uniform down and caught him staring.

Harry jerked his eyes away instantly, and stood quickly. His legs, weak from sitting so long, wobbled beneath him. He heard Tom stand up behind him and hit the button to open the hatch. Harry made his way out. He didn’t look back. He could sense that Tom was right behind him.

Fighting the urge to sigh with relief, he escaped into the bright light of the shuttle bay and hurried to the door.

He made it out the door before he was compelled to look back. Tom was smiling, a strange smile, and when he saw Harry’s furtive glance, it bloomed into a full-fledged grin. He stepped out into the hall, obviously amused, and right before he turned the corner to vanish back to the quarters he shared with B’Elanna, he paused and turned back, managing to capture Harry’s attention one last time.

He winked.

And with that, he strolled off down the hall, leaving Harry nothing to do but stare after him.

The End
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